Six Ducks will represent Liberty Division July 13 in Lancaster
(All stats through end of first half)
(Central Islip, N.Y., July 6, 2016) – Atlantic League officials today announced the 2016 Atlantic League All-Star Game rosters, and six members of the Long Island Ducks have been selected to represent the Liberty Division in the league’s 19th midsummer classic. Infielder Dan Lyons, outfielders Fehlandt Lentini and Anthony Vega, catcher Mike Dowd and pitchers Patrick Crider and Bruce Kern were each selected by league official, coaching staff and media voting.
Lyons, the inaugural winner of the Rawlings Gold Glove Defensive Player of the Year in 2015, earns his third Atlantic League All-Star selection and second in a row. The shortstop has picked up right where he left off, batting .319 in the first half of the season to rank third in the Atlantic League. He has totaled five homers, 26 RBI, 36 runs, 17 doubles, one triple and a .497 slugging percentage, good for fourth in the league. The Minnesota native has also posted a league-best .986 fielding percentage in 48 games at shortstop.
Lentini will play in his second ALPB All-Star Game and first since 2012 at Camden when he was named the game’s Most Valuable Player while representing the Freedom Division with Lancaster. The right fielder is at or near the top of the league leaderboard in several categories this year. Upon selection, he leads the Atlantic League in hits (95), runs (51), total bases (133), stolen base percentage (.957) and at bats (297). In addition, he ranks second in batting average (.320), games (70) and extra-base hits (27). The California native has played strong defense as well, posting a .979 fielding percentage and five assists in the outfield.
Vega collects his first All-Star nod in his second season of play in the Atlantic League. The Long Island native has showcased a tremendous burst of speed in 2016, leading the league with six triples while ranking second on the Ducks with 13 stolen bases. In 59 games, he has compiled a .287 batting average with three homers, 30 RBI, 29 runs, six doubles, 24 walks and a .382 on-base percentage. Defensively, the 26-year-old has yet to commit an error in 52 games, adding four outfield assists.
Dowd heads to the midsummer classic in his first season as a member of the Atlantic League. The catcher has impressed at the plate all year long, batting .304 with 22 RBI and 21 runs in 47 games. He has added four doubles, one triple and one home run as well, while coming up with several clutch hits during the first half. Behind the plate, the Massachusetts native has posted a .987 fielding percentage while working with a pitching staff that leads the league in ERA.
Crider heads to his first Atlantic League All-Star Game in his second season with the Flock. The left-hander has continued to be one of the league’s most effective relief pitchers. He ranks second with 32 appearances this year and has allowed just three runs (two earned). The Kentucky native has a 3-0 record with a 0.95 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 19 innings of work. He has surrendered just six hits all season, with opponents batting a miniscule .100 against him. As of his selection, the 28-year-old has made 16 consecutive appearances without giving up a run.
Kern will also make his All-Star Game debut in his second season on Long Island. The right-hander has spent time as both a starter and reliever this year, pitching in 15 games, eight of them starts. He has posted a 2-1 record with a 1.99 ERA and 45 strikeouts. In 45 and one-third innings of work, he has yielded just 10 earned runs and 10 walks, with opponents batting only .244 against him. The Long Island native has made three consecutive quality starts and has allowed just three earned runs in four outings since joining the starting rotation.
The 2016 Atlantic League All-Star Game will take place on Wednesday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Clipper Magazine Stadium, the home of the Lancaster Barnstormers. This year’s midsummer classic will feature the best from the Liberty Division against the best from the Freedom Division. To view the Atlantic League All-Star rosters, please CLICK HERE. To purchase tickets for this year’s All-Star Game, please visit www.lancasterbarnstormers.com or call (717) 509-HITS.
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 35 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 800 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment to metropolitan markets serving nearly 15{f7b134541f126dcd33819b5eec9a91dff238b58155023223dba97c27371a7fb5} of the US population.
For more information, please visit www.atlanticleague.com.
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